Local government
Meat Hygiene Service
UNISON has more than 1,000 members working for the Meat Hygiene Service. The majority are meat inspectors although we also represent official veterinary surgeons, accountants, finance managers and clerical and admin staff.
Privatised meat inspection: a recipe for disaster
Independent government meat inspectors working for the Meat Hygiene Service look after the safety of the meat you eat. But now the UK government and the European Commission want to hand meat inspection to the abattoir industry. They are trying to do this in the name of modernisation, under cover of EC proposals to simplify food hygiene across Europe.
UNISON agrees that meat inspection needs to be modernised. But we believe privatisation would be disastrous. Deregulation in the 1980s led to the BSE and e-Coli crises. People have died, and are still dying, as a result.
UNISON's meat inspector members are absolutely certain that deregulation has hampered their work. And the partial privatisation of UK poultry inspection has led to some of the worst abuses of animal welfare and abattoir hygiene in Europe.
These disasters must not happen again. A modernised meat inspection system must remain in the hands of independent government inspectors.
The protection of public health should not be privatised
Why meat inspection should not be privatised
For safety’s sake
(08/05/08) Meat inspection to remain in public controlMeat Hygiene Service goes back on pay deal
(31/03/08) Meat Hygiene Service refusal to pay the first year of a two-year deal sparks disputePay talks delayed by dispute on pensions
(16/02/08) Negotiations to take forward the MHS Transformation process have run into difficulties due to a dispute over pensions.Food Standards Agency review of official controls
(05/06/07) On 19 July the FSA Board meets to decide the future of the Meat Hygiene Service. It will consider two options for the future of meat inspection in abattoirs and meat plants• UNISON's national officer for the meat hygiene service is Simon Watson.
• For urgent help and advice at work to go Help at Work
• The UNISON national secretary for local government is Heather Wakefield.
UNISON local government
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
localgovernment@unison.co.uk
Why meat inspection should not be privatised
UNISON briefing on the why meat inspection should not be privatised.
Why meat inspection should not be privatised
Online HTML version
Write to your MP
Model letter to write to your MP asking them to oppose the privatisation of meat inspection.Write to your MP
Online HTML version
Food Standards Agency review: UNISON response to consultation
UNISON's overriding concern is to ensure that public health continues to be protected through strong independent government meat inspection.Food Standards Agency review: UNISON response to consultation
Terms and conditions handbook
Up-to-date information about terms and conditions of employment for staff in the Meat Hygiene ServiceTerms and conditions handbook
Pay and grading
This document sets out the revised national agreement, which aims to harmonise pay and conditions across the Meat Hygiene ServicePay and grading
© Copyright 2008
